Multi-purpose matchbox

ABSTRACT

A multi-function matchbox which contains matches capable of being struck and ignited and which also includes, on at least one panel of the outer cover of the box, a calendar or other information of a chronological nature having utilitarian value to a user. In a more preferred embodiment, a monthly calendar appears on the cover of the matchbox.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in matchboxes which have a function relating to the matches and at least one or more functions not necessarily related to the matches contained in the matchbox and, more particularly, to a matchbox which has a calendar of information on a surface thereof.

2. Brief Description of Related Art

Matchboxes have remained relatively unchanged over the years. Initially, some producers of matchboxes actually produced these boxes of very thin-walled wood construction. In more recent years, matchboxes have adopted the form of durable paperboard material. Matchboxes generally include a small rectangular box-like construction with a cover having a pair of open opposite ends and which is slidable over the box itself.

As a result of the higher cost of construction of matchboxes, they have largely fallen into disuse. Very frequently, matchboxes are giveaway items as, for example, in restaurants, smoke shops and the like. However, the higher cost of both purchasing and giving away matchboxes has deterred their use in favor of mere paper and paperboard matches containing a backing and a cover strip extendable over the backing, with the matches encased therebetween.

The matches which have been forfeited as a result of the lack of use of matchboxes are the wooden matches which are much more beneficial than paper matches. The wooden matches have a longer life, are much easier to handle and with less result in accident. Nevertheless, because of the cost associated with matchboxes, their availability is becoming rapidly reduced.

It would be desirable to provide some means to enhance the functional attributes of matchboxes so that they would serve a purpose other than the mere holding of matches and providing a surface for the striking of the matches.

Many people are also frequently in need of knowing the precise date as, for example, in the case of writing checks and the like. All too frequently, most people do not carry calendars or other date identifying information in their presence. Consequently, if the user of the matches had the advantage of a calendar, the matchbox itself would solve a need for the user.

In recent years, it has also become a practice to collect certain items having collectible value as, for example, memorabilia of people and items, such as advertising posters, movie posters, etc. For many years, so-called “flash cards” having pictures of sports figures and entertainment figures were held to be of collectible value. Matchboxes having a calendar thereon are quite unique in that they are not only dated to provide a collector with the date thereof, but the matchboxes can be made with pictorial information thereon which will also render the matchboxes to be of collectible value.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a matchbox having a calendar or other chronological information printed on a surface thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a matchbox which also contains an attractive picture or copy of a picture, such as an artist's rendering thereof and which can serve as a collectable item.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a matchbox of the type stated which has a multitude of purposes including a surface for striking of matches to ignite same, collecting of photographs which become collectors items and providing a calendar of dates and/or events thereon.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a matchbox of the type stated which can also be constructed at a relatively low unit cost but which can have substantial monetary value.

It is another salient object of the present invention to provide a matchbox of the type stated which may have both a calendar and other chronological information related to a calendar incorporated on a surface of the matchbox.

It is still another salient object of the present invention to provide a method of increasing the value of matchboxes which carry information thereon, typically beneficial to a user thereof.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts and components presently described and pointed out in the claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention primarily relates to matchboxes which have utilitarian value other than for striking of matches contained in the matchbox. In particular, the matchboxes of the invention may contain pictorial illustrations or other information having beneficial value to the user thereof.

More specifically, the matchboxes of the present invention are primarily rectangularly shaped boxes which have an outer cover and an inner slidable tray with the tray being adapted to carry a plurality of matches disposed therein. Typically, the matches (which are not the subject matter of the invention) carried by the tray are wooden matches, that is they are matches which have a wooden shank and an ignitable end. The outer cover and the housing are generally rectangular in shape and usually formed of a paperboard material.

The housings and, particularly, the outer slidable cover has a top face and a bottom face and a pair of connecting sidewalls with opposite open ends. One or both of the sidewalls may contain a strike surface such that the matches can be rubbed against the strike surface causing ignition of same. In a preferred embodiment, only one of the longitudinal sidewalls has the strike face and the opposite longitudinal sidewall may carry information and, particularly, chronological information.

In the more preferred embodiment of the invention, one of the flat faces of the matchbox will bear chronological information as, for example, a calendar having a particular month of the year presented thereon. In this way, the user of the matchbox has the benefit of immediately determining the correct date. The opposite flat face of the matchbox cover may carry illustrative material, such as a photograph of a famous person or other person thereon. In certain cases and for collectible purposes, the matchbox covers may have pictures of women, such as, for example, women similar to those used in some of the well-known magazines directed to male entertainment. In either case, the matchbox becomes a collectible item and, for that purpose, could be traded or sold in the same manner as any other collectible item.

As identified above, the matchboxes of the present invention have a utility value in providing a striking surface to ignite match removed from the box. In another aspect, they serve another utilitarian purpose in providing chronological information such as a calendar. In a third aspect, they may contain pictorial information which may have value to a collector thereof. In this way, the matchboxes of the invention become a collectible item and may have value as a collectible item apart from the utilitarian purposes which they serve.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other purposes which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of the forms in which it may be embodied. These forms are shown in the drawings forming a part of and accompanying the present specification. They will now be described in detail for purposes of illustrating the general principles of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings are not to be taken in a limiting sense.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a top side of a matchbox constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bottom face of the matchbox of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan or bottom plan view of a modified form of matchbox in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a further modified form of matchbox in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings which illustrate practical embodiments of the present invention, B designates a matchbox of the type constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention. The matchbox B is comprised of an outer casing or cover 10 having a slidable tray or inner box 12 and which may be pulled outwardly in the manner as shown in FIG. 1 through one of the opposite open ends 14 of the matchbox cover.

The matchbox construction, including the cover and the tray, is essentially conventional in that matchboxes having a slidable tray which slides outwardly of a cover from either of opposite open ends, is well known in the art. However, and as indicated previously, matchboxes of this construction have fallen into a state of disuse. The present invention provides a totally new type of matchbox construction which will have utilitarian value and appeal to a user.

In accordance with the present invention, the cover 10 has a top face 16 carrying the image of a calendar month 18. Thus, in the case of the matchbox construction shown in FIG. 1, there is provided a calendar face of the month of January 2004 forming the upper face of the matchbox. Also, there is a pair of opposite sides 20 and 22. One of those sides 20 will more specifically identify the month and year, such as January 2004. The opposite sidewall 22 carries a striking surface 24.

The bottom face of the matchbox construction 26 is best shown in FIG. 2 and, in this case, may adopt any form of desired image, such as a graphic image or a pictorial image. In the case of the matchbox construction of this embodiment of the invention there is provided an image of a woman in a bathing suit. However, other images could be provided. These images may adopt the form of various well known personalities, such as entertainment personalities, and thereby become collectible. Thus, for example, in the month of December one image would be present and in the month of January 2004 another image would be present and so forth. In this way, twelve individual images could be generated for each of the months of the year and thereby become easily date identifiable and collectible items.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the bottom face 26 is provided with an image 30 of a baseball player 32. In this case, the baseball player could possibly be one of the National League baseball players and, thus, also provide collectible matchboxes, much in the same manner as baseball trading cards bearing images of sports figures became collectible.

Obviously, images of pin-up girls or other celebrity personalities are only exemplary of the numerous images which can be incorporated on the faces of the matchboxes. Other images, which may or may not have collectible value, could also be incorporated on the faces of the matchboxes. For that matter, images of paintings by famous artists, e.g., Lilies in a Pond by Monet, could also be incorporated on one of the faces of the matchboxes of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention which may contain a calendar on one face, such as the upper face 16, and would also contain a place for writing notes on the opposite flat face 26. Thus, it can be seen that there is a message form 32 allowing the user to literally write messages on the matchbox. In this way, if the user had appointments on a certain date, that user could mark an X through the particular date and referred to the notes on the message area 34.

Thus, there has been illustrated and described a unique and novel multi-purpose matchbox and which thereby fulfills all of the objects and advantages which have been sought. It should be understood that many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. Therefore, any and all such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention. 

1. A matchbox construction having utilitarian function other than carrying matches and providing a striking surface therefor, said matchbox construction comprising: a) an outer housing; b) a tray adapted for cooperation with said housing and carrying a plurality of matches therein; c) said housing having a pair of opposed relatively flat faces; and d) a presentation of chronological information on one flat face of said housing and enabling a user to determine a specified date therefrom.
 2. The matchbox construction of claim 1 further characterized in that a decorative image appears on the opposite flat face of said matchbox construction.
 3. The matchbox construction of claim 1 further characterized in that said housing comprises: a) a pair of opposed side walls; and b) a match striking surface on one of said pair of opposed side walls.
 4. The matchbox construction of claim 3 further characterized in that: additional chronological information is presented on said opposite side wall from the side wall carrying said date.
 5. The matchbox construction of claim 1 further characterized in that said tray is slidably shiftable relative to said housing.
 6. The matchbox construction of claim 1 further characterized in that the opposite flat face of said housing is provided with additional information which may be chronologically related.
 7. The matchbox construction of claim 6 further characterized in that the additional information presented on that opposite flat face is a note taking area.
 8. The matchbox construction of claim 1 further characterized in that the chronological information on said flat face comprises: a calendar month of a year.
 9. A matchbox construction having utilitarian function other than holding matches and providing a striking surface therefor, said matchbox construction comprising: a) a housing adapted to carry matches therein, said housing having a pair of opposite flat faces; b) a tray shiftable relative to said housing and carrying matches therein; and c) a pictorial image on one flat face of said housing, said pictorial image having value to certain users thereof allowing said matchbox construction to be retained and used as a collectible item.
 10. The matchbox construction of claim 9 further characterized in that said tray is slidable into and out of said housing.
 11. The matchbox construction of claim 9 further characterized in that a portion of a calendar is also printed on an opposite flat face of said housing.
 12. The matchbox construction of claim 9 further characterized in that the portion of the calendar on the opposite flat face is a month of a calendar year.
 13. The matchbox construction of claim 9 further characterized in that said matchbox is comprised of a paperboard material.
 14. A method of enhancing the value and use of matchboxes, said method comprising: a) providing a matchbox having an outer housing with a tray slidable therein for holding matches; b) said tray being constructed so as to allow easy removal of one or more matches by a user; c) providing a striking face on said housing allowing a user to strike a match removed from said tray; and d) providing chronological information on a flat face of said housing so that a user may easily obtain a particular date therefrom.
 15. The method of claim 14 further characterized in that said method comprises providing a pictorial image on said matchbox housing allowing the housing to have collectible value. 